Ex-mayor extols staff’s work after vote

Walter Fitzgerald says it was not hard for Peter Kelly to succeed him as mayor because Kelly had already been on council. Fitzgerald says staff will be crucial during the transition this fall when Kelly leaves office. (INGRID BULMER / Staff)

Halifax will have a new mayor this fall and city hall staff are going to be crucial during the transition, a former mayor said Thursday.

Walter Fitzgerald said staff played a key role when he initially occupied the mayor’s office in the 1970s, and again on his way out after his final mayoral stint when Peter Kelly won the 2000 election.

“I had an excellent secretary and an excellent staff,” Fitzgerald said. “There are a lot of things that just continue, and you just keep it up to date.”

Fitzgerald said there wasn’t much of a learning curve for Kelly 12 years ago because he had been serving as Bedford’s representative on regional council.

It’s a “little more difficult” when the mayoral victor comes from outside council, Fitzgerald said, “and you’re not a part of the (municipal government) organization.”

The election is Oct. 20. Of six candidates competing for the mayor’s chair, not one is a council member.

“The staff would be extremely helpful,” said Fitzgerald, 76, a retiree with nine grandchildren. “All the records are there — everything should be there and properly filed.”

Kelly, a professional politician who, at age 55, is looking for a new job, said there’s a transition team in place.

Members include personnel from the chief administrative officer’s department, clerk’s office and his office.

“They’re trying to determine what may or may not be relevant and putting those into a program, including an orientation program for the new council,” Kelly said.

He said he intends to meet with the next mayor soon after the election.

“Whatever I can do to make their job easier or any information they need, I would be more than willing to do.”

Fitzgerald said he earned about $94,000 the last year he served as Halifax’s mayor.

Kelly’s salary is about $145,000, according to Halifax Regional Municipality’s audited financial statements.

Asked if re-entry into private life, after a long career in municipal and provincial politics, was tough to manage back in 2000, Fitzgerald said it wasn’t that hard.

But he is not too happy with the current state of affairs, especially the look of downtown Halifax.